Safe Coach Operation - Part 1

Safe Coach Operation - late 1930s instructional film presented to DSR bus drivers. "People of poor skills and worse intelligence swarm the streets in cars" cautions the narrator, and the importance of being well-groomed and leaving home in a good state of mind.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• DSR
• historical
• detroit

[hbc2nddetroit]

This film can be dated around late-1937 or 1938.

The last of those "front-engine" Ford Metropolitan buses (primarily featured in this film) were delivered beginning in late-1937. The first 500 Ford Metros (#1051-1550) were delivered in November 1936, while the last 250 (#1551-1800) began arriving in November 1937. The first 500 of the new redesigned "rear-engine" Ford Transit buses (prominent on Detroit streets during WW-II era) made their debut in 1939. None of these are seen in this film.

[projecth112]

Thank you for your very informative comments on these videos.

[RTD8481]

Why would a such a bustling city like Detroit back then woud have a fleet of small buses?? This didnt make any sense!!

[m1iiii]

1. Cover your mouth with your hand

2. Make a wish into it.

3.Close your hand (make it into a fist)

4. Hold you hand(the fist) to your heart for 5 seconds.

5.Send this to 3 more videos.

6. Tommorow will be the best day of your life

[hbc2nddetroit]

You're welcome. I found the clips very interesting as they depicted many of the same operator safety practices and work procedures still used by the department today some 70 years later under DDOT.

BTW—I've even placed links to the vids on my Detroit Transit History website.

[hbc2nddetroit]

Two makes of Ford built buses are visible in this film. The original older style conventional Fords, over 330 of which were purchased between 1934 and 1935, and the then new Ford Metropolitan coach, 750 of which were purchased between 1936 and 1937. During the late-1930's thru mid-1940's, the Detroit DSR operated under a policy that was unique to the industry in a big-city transit operation. Small-size (21-27 pass.) Ford buses with very quick headways were used on all DSR bus routes.

[hbc2nddetroit]

It's funny how Ford Motion Picture Laboratories only filmed the Ford build DSR buses for this coach instructional film. Although Ford buses dominated the DSR bus fleet by this time, a number of ACF, Twin, Yellow Coach and Chevrolet built buses were still on the property. Even the street-scenes of busy downtown Detroit show only the Fords (lol). Only a couple of the 900-plus DSR streetcar fleet even makes a street-scene appearance in the film.

[sixten3]

It's almost bittersweet to see Detroit so bustling back in the day. Thanks for the great video.